Bill Clinton’s Lost Opportunity
While I was effusive in my praise for Hillary Clinton’s speech at the Democratic National Convention the other night and was willing to let pass the fact that she didn’t give Barack Obama a big wet smooch in urging her supporters to get with the program, it was with trepidation that I surfed away from the Phillies-Mets post-game show to see what Bill “Famously Hurt Feelings” Clinton had to offer when it was his turn on the Denver dais.
In the run-up to the second most most anticipated speech of the convention, my snarky side whispered to my non-judgmental side (yes, I have one) that Bill would have no choice but to make nice or things would be mighty-chilly in the old marital bed back home in Chappaqua. But then it occurred to both my sides that the Clintons’ marriage has almost certainly been one of convenience — call it power sharing — for a good many years.
Anyhow, reading between Hillary’s lines the other night I finally if belatedly understood why PUMAs and other aggrieved supporters still were unable to let go. It’s a Republican dirty trick. (I’m joking. I think.)
More to the point is that these women felt a sense of entitlement, that this was the year one of their own would burst through the glass ceiling of American politics and make it to the Big Dance and beyond. As misplaced as focusing their feelings of betrayal on Obama may be, I can still relate. (For the record, note that Greek-Americans didn’t seem to feel betrayed when Bill Clinton muscled aside Paul Tsongas in 1992 to grab the nomination.)
It’s Bill’s own sense of entitlement and feelings of betrayal that are less easy to understand, but after his speech I think I have a clue or two about a man whose ego is even bigger than his legendary libido.
I have heard Clinton give better speeches. This one was at least adequate if somewhat disjointed, and its greatest strength was linking John McCain to not just the failures of the Bush administration, but its ideology. That is the theme more than any other that will propel Obama to the White House.
So Clinton did what he had to do –but he should have did what he had to do weeks ago and not played patty-cake with the media and his wife’s base through a series of deliberate leaks and non-denials concerning his aggrievement with Obama.
Okay, maybe it was a pretty good speech. But in the end it was more important for Clinton to feel high and mighty and try to leverage a process that he should have been no part of than go after McCain from the jump. That lost opportunity may not necessarily translate into lost votes for Obama, but Clinton’s post-presidential legacy — already tarnished because of his slash-and-burn conduct during the primaries — was not rehabilitated with one sincere-sounding speech.
13 Responses to “Bill Clinton’s Lost Opportunity”
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I know this is just howling at the moon, but after the “media” (and I sadly have to add blogs) have spent so much and energy on the 10's of tin hat PUMA's, will this story about the potential fire storm in the GOP get any coverage next week or will it all be “how dare the Dems question John McCain's use of the POW “get out of jail free card?” Just askin.'
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12922…
Kathryn:
I know you're just askin, but I'm not connectin.
The PUMA story has been driven by the media. The POW story has been driven by the McCain campaign because anything that can divert attention from what a sorry-assed successor to Bush he would be is beneficial. The Hanoi Hilton angle is tailor made.
I dunno, whatever your take on the Clinton speech last night, the house was alive & cheering for Obama & Biden BIG TIME at the end of it. The MSM was hard pressed to find someone who was yawning, or picking their noses, or scowling for the producers to cut in to spin it down. There was a very strong & good vibe buzzing for tonights (hopefully) barnburner culmination & nomination. They are a perfect match to take on McBush &…oh…my…?
http://tinyurl.com/5jxa39
Sorry Shaun, I wasn't very clear. The Politico link is to a story about Rove trying to ax a Lieberman pick for VP. There are some real divides in the GOP that could come to the fore depending on who McCain picks. If he goes with Romney, it makes Rove/Limbaugh happy but not the Evangelicals. If he goes with Lieberman, it makes McCain himself and the neocon's happy, but outrages the rest of the party. Ridge while a Republican also makes the socon's pissed. The safe pick, Pawlenty, is so white bread bland, he's not going to come off as a credible attack dog. Picking him also undercuts their experience arguement.
The GOP has always been far better at putting on their unity face. The fact that these tremors are coming to the surface is huge. I mean the Dems are always messy and the PUMA's story really isn't anything new, the fact that someone leaked that story about Rove is pretty shocking. And all of this doesn't even include the potential mischief of the Ron Paul supporters.
These are real potential issues, and I know I have seen some posts regarding them here, but most of the media is completely ignoring these rifts in their PUMA frenzy. The fact that Tom Brokaw declared the POW issue off limits is sending the signal that they are going to parrot the talking poins of the GOP and not cover any of these other stories. However, they way I mentioned the POW point was confusing and took away from my central point and I apologize for that.
Kathryn:
Thank you for the clarification. I agree with everything you said.
Good comment- Kathryn. Shaun- I have to disagree with you on Clinton's speech. It showed me that he was willing and able to put his personal feelings aside (yes of course he believes his wife deserved to win!) and put the good of the country and the party first. Also, that among Democrats he is still considered second to none in achievement, ability and vision. He couldn't even speak for several minutes because of the rousing ovation he received from the crowd.
Maybe he's had better moments, but for me it was the best speech of the night, possibly the entire convention, because he tied the party's past together with its present and future and “passed the torch to a new generation”. If you compare it to what came before and after he spoke with conviction and strength, and conveyed his intense love for this country.
You are very welcome Shaun, us Philly folk need to stick together
Kritt:
Just so I be clear, as they say in Philly, I had no problem with the speech per se, only that Bubba played out the hurt power monger string to the very end.
Ever since the day that Hillary conceded, I thought that the plan was to have Bill give his first big “I love Obama” speech at the convention?
Clinton's speech was excellent; I can say that as a critic of him and of the Democrats. Among other things he said what was needed to be said, with the correct sincerity or at least force that Hillary was lacking, in favor of Obama. The Dems needed McCain- and GOP-bashing and they needed uplift, and Clinton in particular gave the Dems plenty of uplift (and additional support for Obama). Obama got the cheerleading that he deserved to get from the Clintons thanks to Bill's speech.
Biden's speech was great, too, and so was Kerry's, for the record.
The Clinton people have no basis for complaint and should not be angry about or ashamed of the nomination of Obama. As some such as T-Steel will know, there once was a great rivalry in the NFL several years ago, during the time when the San Francisco Forty-Niners changed from being a West Coast “branch-plant” or mere “satellite” of a league based in and dominated by eastern teams, to becoming the greatest, best-achieving professional sports organization in history. Several years ago, the periodically good-to-great Dallas Cowboys became good to great again, to the point where for a while, year after year the Niners and the Cowboys were in the playoffs, and frequently played in the NFC championship game for the right to advance to (and subsequently win) the Super Bowl.
Those NFC championship games were contested by the two best teams in the NFL, year after year. These games were routinely called “The Real Super Bowl.”
Everyone knew it, including AFL fans and those who hated the Cowboys (mainly) or the 49ers (too smug, mere newcomers, they think they're so perfect with their Forty Niner Excellence). It was the two best teams — The Real Super Bowl.
Hillary Clinton versus Barack Obama has been The Real Super Bowl this year.
That is, it has been The Real General Election — The Real Presidential Election — this year.
It — concluding with this convention and the official nomination — has been The Real Presidential Election this year. Clinton and Obama are the strongest two contestents this year; they both happen to be in the same (Democratic) party.
We all know it, even GOP-leaners and critics of Clinton or of Obama.
Of course if hurts if “your” candidate Clinton lost. One of the best two had to lose because both of them are Democrats this year.
But this Dem contest really was The Real Presidential Election this year.
Take time out to remember that, Hillary Clinton fans, as you relish Bill's speech.
Shaun,
All in all, he helped Obama more than he hurt him. Hillary's gesture to nominate him by acclimation was gracious and generous (ok you can tell who I voted for in the Md primary, LOL) I guess knowing both of their personalities– this is the best the Obama campaign could have hoped for. The Clintons certainly have shown that they are capable of maintaining a longterm feud– they still are barely on speaking terms with Al Gore- so I guess I see their concessions as a success for the party.